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Public Relations Scholarships

Have you ever wondered why your favorite movie star gave a specific answer on the red carpet, what the rationale was behind that politician admitting his affair or how an upstart company gained immense popularity overnight? Most likely, a public relations professional deserves some of the credit.

Public relations (PR for short) centers around maintaining the public image of businesses, organizations and individuals. In even simpler terms, public relations execs are responsible for making their client look good at all costs and, in the off chance there is a slip up, cleaning up the mess as quickly as possible. Public relations majors take a variety of classes including journalism, marketing, advertising, business, communications and sociology, all of which prepare students for the rigors of this particular career. There’s a definite need for members in this field – the Bureau of Labor Statistics says employment of public relations specialists is expected to grow 24 percent from 2008 to 2018 – and with the right education, you could be one of them. The only thing holding you back? Paying for school.

A number of schools like the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Florida offer public relations scholarships specifically to their majors but looking beyond campus can yield even more public relations scholarship opportunities. Both the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) give generously to their members, as do public relations firms like Fleishman-Hillard, which also has an internship program. We’ve pulled several public relations scholarships from the Scholarships.com database for you but to find even more scholarship awards for which you qualify, conduct a free scholarship search. It’s worth it!

ABA Academic Merit Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/6/2020
  • Amount: $5,000
  • The Academic Merit Scholarship is open to both ABA and non-ABA Members. To be eligible, candidates will have completed, at a minimum, their first year of an accredited university (4-year university/college or junior college); must have a declared major or course of study relevant to the transportation, travel and tourism industry; must possess a cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher. For more [...] More

ACES Bill Walsh Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 11/15/2020
  • Amount: $3,000
  • The Bill Walsh scholarship will go to an applicant who aspires to edit news and who demonstrates the talent and passion for language that Bill devoted his life to. The scholarships are open to college juniors, seniors and graduate students who have demonstrated an interest in and aptitude for copy editing jobs or internships. For more information and to download the application form, please visit [...] More

ACF American Advertising Federation-NM Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 6/7/2020
  • Amount: $1,400
  • The American Advertising Federation-New Mexico (AAF-NM) Scholarship Fund has been established to provide scholarships to deserving men and women who intend to enter the advertising profession. In order to apply, you must be a New Mexico resident enrolled full-time at a four-year New Mexico public or non-profit college/university as a junior or senior in one of the following majors: Business (with [...] More

Austin Alliance for Women in Media Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 3/1/2020
  • Amount: $5,000
  • Applicants must complete 75+ hours of college course work by December of the year of the award, but must not graduate before December. Must have a inimum 3.25 GPA out of 4.0 and must be enrolled as a full-time student (carrying a minimum of 12 hours per semester) at an Austin or San Marcos area university, with a declared major in radio, television, film, digital media, public relations, [...] More

Bethesda Lutheran Communities Lutheran Student Scholastic & Service Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 5/18/2020
  • Amount: $30,000
  • Bethesda Lutheran Communities offers two scholarships to Lutheran students pursuing undergraduate degrees in any area of service to people with developmental disabilities.

    Eligibility/Requirements:
    Be an active, communicant member of a Lutheran congregation. Be a freshmen, sophomore, or junior at an accredited college/university. Have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Have a career objective in the field of [...] More

CIRI "Cap" Lathrop Endowment Scholarship Fund

  • Application Deadline: 6/1/2020
  • Amount: $6,000
  • The Cap Lathrop Endowment Scholarship Fund was established in 1997 in memory of Captain "Cap" Lathrop who was a pioneer in Alaska’s telecommunications and broadcast industry.

    The Endowment, one of The CIRI Foundation’s several scholarship endowment programs, is funded with contributions from its major donor, A.E. "Augie" Hiebert, founder of Northern Television, Inc., General Communications, [...] More

Dan Klepper Memorial Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 2/1/2020
  • Amount: $2,000
  • To support the next generation of communicators, the Texas Outdoor Writers Association offers the Dan Klepper Memorial Scholarship. In order to apply, students must currently enrolled in college and be pursuing a career in the field of communication-related to the outdoors, environmental conservation, or wildlife management and conservation. Communication careers may be in the areas of print [...] More

Davidson Fellows Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 2/13/2020
  • Amount: $50,000
  • The Davidson Fellows Scholarship awards $50,000, $25,000 and $10,000 scholarships to extraordinary young people, 18 and under, who have completed a significant piece of work. Application categories are Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Literature, Music, Philosophy and Outside the Box. Davidson Fellows are honored every year in Washington, D.C. with Congressional meetings and a [...] More

IAEE Helen Brett Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 6/1/2020
  • Amount: $5,000
  • The purpose of the Helen Brett Scholarship is to assist individuals who are enrolled in a four-year degree program with a focus on the study of exhibition and event management. The scholarship serves to promote the exhibitions and events industry by attracting college level students into the field of study and encouraging their pursuit with financial support. Scholarships are awarded [...] More

Judy Corman Memorial Scholarship and Internship from Scholastic

  • Application Deadline: 1/26/2020
  • Amount: $10,000
  • The Judy Corman Memorial Scholarship and Internship from Scholastic is awarded to a student interested in communications and media relations and is a rising junior/senior in college who is able to fulfill a paid internship at the company's New York City headquarters during the summer. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website. [...] More

Kenneth H. Ashworth Fellowship Program

  • Application Deadline: 2/20/2020
  • Amount: Varies
  • The Kenneth H. Ashworth Fellowship Program provides financial assistance to students with financial need who are enrolled in graduate programs in public affairs, public service or public administration.

    Applicants must be Texas residents who are able to show financial need and are enrolled as graduate students in public affairs, public service or public administration. Must intend to work in [...] More

Leonard M. Perryman Communications Scholarship for Racial Ethnic Minority Students

  • Application Deadline: 3/15/2020
  • Amount: $2,500
  • The Leonard M. Perryman Communications Scholarship for Racial Ethnic Minority Students awards a scholarship for undergraduate studies of religion, journalism, or communications. The scholarship assists a United Methodist undergraduate who intends to pursue a career in religious journalism through study at an accredited U.S. college or university. Applicants must be a United Methodist ethnic [...] More

National Press Club Scholarship for Journalism Diversity

  • Application Deadline: 3/1/2020
  • Amount: $2,000
  • The National Press Club, the leading professional organization for journalists, wants to recruit promising future journalists who will bring diversity to American journalism. The scholarship consists of a one-year scholarship, with an additional $500 book stipend that is renewable up to 3 years.

    The competition is open to high school seniors who are preparing to enter college and intend to [...] More

NDS McCullough Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/15/2020
  • Amount: $2,000
  • Applicant must be a high school senior planning to enter a four-year college or university with intent to major in Dairy/Animal Science with a Communications emphasis or Agricultural Journalism with a Dairy/Animal Science emphasis. Students must be planning on a career in dairy journalism or communications For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's [...] More

Nellie Martin Carman Scholarship Fund

  • Application Deadline: 3/1/2020
  • Amount: $2,000
  • The Nellie Martin Carman Scholarship is available to graduating seniors from public high schools in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties in Washington state. Application forms are only available through these high schools and candidates for the scholarship are nominated by their school each year. Scholarships are renewable for four years of college in the state of Washington. Music, sculpture, [...] More

New York Financial Writers' Association Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/15/2020
  • Amount: Varies
  • The New York Financial Writers Association Scholarships are for journalism students in the New York City metropolitan area who wish to pursue a career in business or financial journalism.

    Complete the application providing your present address and telephone number and, if different, your permanent home address and telephone number. Applications should be available at your department or the [...] More

Pulliam Journalism Fellowship

  • Application Deadline: 11/1/2020
  • Amount: $6,500
  • College juniors, seniors, and graduate students enrolled in a journalism or related degree program as of Nov. 1, are eligible to apply for the Pulliam Journalism Fellowship. Previous newspaper journalism internships and/or experience as a journalist on a college newspaper are preferred. You need to be committed to a career in news journalism. You must have reliable transportation and arrange for [...] More

Sandy Schenker Capell Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/1/2020
  • Amount: $2,500
  • The Sandy Schenker Capell scholarship was created to honor Sandy and her commitment to mentoring and developing young talent. The scholarship will be awarded each year to a Houston area high school senior interested in a career in media. The ideal candidate will represent the qualities that Sandy exuded in her daily life. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's [...] More

SCPA Foundation Scholarships

  • Application Deadline: 3/11/2020
  • Amount: $3,000
  • The South Carolina Press Association Foundation awards up to three scholarships each year to S.C. college students interested in pursuing newspaper careers. encourages talented young people to enter the newspaper business and provides training and growth opportunities for working professionals. Scholarships are open to student journalists who attend a four-year college in South Carolina or who [...] More

SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund

  • Application Deadline: 3/1/2020
  • Amount: $5,000
  • The SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund is dedicated to fostering the next generation of automotive aftermarket industry leaders and innovators. Assistance is available for career paths in the automotive industry in accounting, engineering, race car driver/crew, administration information technology, sales/marketing, advertising, business, manufacturing, technician, design/graphics, [...] More

Stoody-West Graduate Fellowship

  • Application Deadline: 3/15/2020
  • Amount: $6,000
  • The purpose of the fellowship is to enhance the recipient's professional competence and thereby help to perpetuate the standards exemplified by Ralph Stoody and Arthur West. Religious journalism is interpreted to include news writing for secular press, church press and for church institutions. The committee considers all news and journalism forms, including electronic and broadcast media, as well [...] More

Telegraph Herald Scholastic Journalist Award

  • Application Deadline: 4/1/2020
  • Amount: $1,500
  • The Telegraph Herald Scholastic Journalist Awards are presented to high school seniors studying within the Telegraph Herald's circulation area (roughly a 50-mile radius of Dubuque, Iowa). Applicants must be active in the editorial aspect (news, web, sports, features, photo and art/graphics) of newspapers and submit portfolios demonstrating experience, talent, and leadership in newspaper [...] More

The AAF-Greater Evansville Scholarship Award

  • Application Deadline: 3/25/2020
  • Amount: $5,000
  • The AAF-Greater Evansville awards scholarships to deserving high school and/or college students yearly in April. Over the past 40 years, AAF-Greater Evansville has distributed over $158,000 in scholarship awards. To be eligible, students must plan to pursue a career in advertising, marketing, public relations or graphic design. The application deadline varies yearly, but is typically in early [...] More

The Harold K. Douthit Regional Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/19/2020
  • Amount: $2,000
  • The Ohio Newspapers Foundation will award a scholarship to a student from northern Ohio who is currently enrolled and majoring in a field relevant to our industry, particularly journalism, advertising, marketing, or communications degree program at an Ohio college or university. The scholarship is named for Harold K. Douthit, founder of Douthit Communications, Inc., Sandusky, and a former [...] More

The LAGRANT Foundation Undergraduate Scholarships

  • Application Deadline: 2/28/2020
  • Amount: $2,500
  • LAGRANT Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship recipients will receive a trip to Cincinnati, OH where they will participate in career building activities including a welcome dinner with a keynote speaker, two daylong career & professional development workshops and a scholarship and donor recognition reception. Applicants must be from a minority ethnic group, studying a field of study that has an [...] More

The Sharon Olds Fellowship for Poetry

  • Application Deadline: 9/19/2020
  • Amount: $1,000
  • The Sharon Olds Fellowship for Poetry is offered once annually to a poet starting the Solstice Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing Program during the winter residency/spring semester. Fellowship recipients will receive a $1,000 award toward their first semester's tuition.

    Fellowships are awarded based on the quality of the applicant's writing sample.

    Fellowship applicants are strongly [...] More

The Walter J. Travis Memorial Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 6/1/2020
  • Amount: $1,000
  • Applicants for The Walter J. Travis Memorial Scholarship must be enrolled/matriculated as a full-time undergraduate or graduate student at an accredited two-year or four-year college/university in Landscape Architecture, Journalism and PR, Sport Management or Park & Recreation Management.

    Awards are renewable subject to re-application, including a letter of recommendation from at least one of [...] More

Upper Midwest Emmy Chapter/Foundation Scholarships

  • Application Deadline: 2/5/2020
  • Amount: $3,000
  • The NATAS-Upper Midwest Chapter/Foundation offers $2,500 student scholarship grants to be used for tuition & books. Scholarships are open to high school and college/university students living in the five-state area served by the Upper Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. (Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa & western Wisconsin).

    Applicants must [...] More

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E-tail giant Amazon is now accepting applications to its Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship Program for students entering college in the fall of 2020. The scholarship program offers 100 current high school seniors from underserved and underrepresented communities across the country the opportunity to receive $40,000 scholarships to study computer science at a four-year college or university and a guaranteed paid internship offer at Amazon after the completion of their first year. [...]

NC Senator Proposes Taxing of Athletic Scholarships

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by Susan Dutca-Lovell

In response to the NCAA's vote to allow athletes to profit from their names, images and likeness, Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina has proposed taxing those scholarships. Senator Burr tweeted: "If college athletes are going to make money off their likenesses while in school, their scholarships should be treated like income. I'll be introducing legislation that subjects scholarships given to athletes who choose to 'cash in' to income taxes." [...]

Gucci Gaffe Results in Green for Grads

October 8, 2019

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Gucci is releasing a new line of... diversity undergraduate scholarships for students who are "traditionally underrepresented in the fashion industry." The 1.5 million U.S. university college scholarship program is set to run for four years, targeting students who attend four-year universities. Special consideration will be given to those residing in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Toronto and Washington, D.C and/or for those who plan to attend or are currently attending a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). [...]

Last Reviewed: November 2019

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